Thurles Lions Trust look to the future of housing at Stanwix Village and beyond

The Thurles Lions Trust is to expand their Stanwix Village project into a further 15 to 20 units.

They also plan to develop a site on Croke Street, which will provide an additional six units.

Speaking after the official opening of the Stanwix Village, Thurles Lions Trust Chief Executive (part-time) John McCormack told the Tipperary Star about the trust’s future housing developments, both on this site and others.

“Thurles Lions Trust has adopted a strategy of using town centre, vacant and substandard properties and, or derelict sites for their future projects because they see it as bringing added value to housing.

“Not only are you going to house somebody, but you are going to house them in a town centre location around amenities. And the clientele we support that's what they want,” said Mr McCormack.

Mr McCormack said that the Croke Street development is in the design process, but he would hope that it would be under construction in 12 months.

The trust has purchased one of the derelict sites opposite the Stanwix Village, and the second is all going through the purchasing process.

“That site is with preliminary planning with the council, and they have approved preliminary design, and it will go into the design process when we buy it, so it will take between 15 and 20 one-bedrooms,” said Mr McCormack.

Mr McCormack said they hope those houses could be delivered in between two and three years.

Additionally, they are working with the Roscrea Lions Club to develop a site there.

BRICK BY BRICK

But the current Stanwix site is not quite finished. The Thurles Lions Trust are putting in a couple of new features, a fountain and a community garden.

The money for the design features are crowd funded.

“We have bought an inscribed brick for €100 and inscribe a loved one’s name or your own name on the side.

“So we have 300 inscribed bricks sold to date.

“We also have sponsorship for five seats.

“So we have raised about €40,000, which will now be ploughed into the gardens, and it will be a garden for the public, a garden for the residents but a garden for the public as well,” said Mr McCormack.

You can find out more about Thurles Lions Trust including fundraising at www.tlh.ie.

TRIBUTES TO HISTORY

In the spirit of old made new, the opening of the Stanwix Village paid tribute to the progressive history of the building.
Chief Executive (part-time) John McCormack said that at the day’s ceremony, they honour the woman who started the Stanwix Home and those who have cared for it since.

“We honour Emma Slaughter Stanwix, whose humanity and generosity 150 years ago resulted in the construction of 18 houses for elderly females in the Stanwix home.

“We also honour members of the successive Stanwix Trusts under whose guardianship the Stanwix Home was placed, and who oversaw the management of those houses for over 130 years.

“Hopefully, successive Lions Trusts will do a similar job for the next 130 years,” said Mr McCormack.

He also thanked the last Stanwix Trust, who transferred ownership of the site to the Lions Trust in 2019.

Emma Slaughter Stanwix left the home in the care of both the Roman Catholic and the Church of Ireland in 1857 with very specific instructions. And it remained so for over 100 years.

Emma Slaughter Stanwix died in Versailles on December 2 1857. According to the Thurles Lions Trust website, Emma Slaughter Stanwix was an English absentee landlord who lived in Versailles.

She had inherited her land from her father, Thomas Slaughter Stanwix.

After her death and in her will she instructed that using profits from her estate and rent from tenants a hospital be built in Thurles for people who had accidents or incurable diseases.

She also directed that an Alms-house be built for widows older than 60 and that they be prioritised over other applicants and “without any distinction of religion.”

On Friday, the new village was jointly blessed by Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly, Rev Ian Coulter and Bishop Martin Hayes.

Archbishop O’Reilly told those gathered at the ceremony that the joint blessing was to reflect the history of the Stanwix Home.

“When this complex was initiated it was an extraordinary one because it was a joint Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland initiative, and that has been the membership of the trust for over 100 years.

“Stanwix was way ahead of her time when she asked that the trust be composed of members of the two churches in Thurles,” said Archbishop O’Reilly.

Thurles Cathaoirleach Councillor Peggy Ryan said that it is wonderful that people now know the history of the site.

“Everyone knows it was called the Widow’s Home but now we know the history of it and the vision of the Emma Slaughter Stanwix,” said Cllr Ryan.